Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 7/24/2010

Question
Hi:

I have a 2 1/2 year old, 6 lb.  Yorkie.   He has been throwing up for the past week.  Occasionally he does keep some food down.  I have been to two vets this past week.  (We were out of town and I had to find a vet).   We are now with our regular vet.  He was x-rayed by the first vet, no blockage was apparent, but the vet said it might not be apparent and actually called me yesterday to check on my dog (by coincidence he knows my vet and they may have been in communication).  This out-of-town vet told me to consider exploratory surgery to see if there is a blockage.  However, my vet did a complete blood panel (which showed a very healthy dog) and she hasn't ruled out a problem with something he ate or got into.  Our vet, also thinks there could be a partial blockage.  She is treating him with Pepcid and Flagyl, and an antiacid shot.  This was Thursday's diagnosis.  It is now Saturday at 6 a.m.  He ate Thursday night after his antiacid shot.  Friday, he threw up twice and kept about a teaspoon of bread down.  I have an appointment at 9:30 a.m. today.  

Food history:  I had him on a holistic kibble and a holistic dehydrated food (not raw) for the past 2 or so months.  I kept switching  flavors (dehydrated food) to see what he preferred -- chicken, beef, lamb or venison.  He didn't like the venison but ate it for several days.  I exchanged the venison for chicken.  His appetite had slowed with the venison and didn't pick up with the chicken.  It continued to slow a bit and then the vomiting set in.  Now his appetite is nil.  I would also supplement his food with boiled chicken.  His treats consisted of dehydrated chicken breast and dehydraded duck breast (made in the USA and no additives to my knowledge).  The duck breast was new to his diet.  I added it within the past month because I was unable to find his usual dehydrated chicken.

Getting into stuff history:  He will eat crumbs or food bits he finds on the floor.  Hasn't chewed up foreign objects since he was a puppy.

We have had great luck with homeopathic medicine with the human members of our family.  I'm hoping you can give me some insight.  I am worried sick about my doggy.

Answer
Hi Paula,
First let me make it clear that I am not a vet and do not diagnose for that reason. However, I can give you some food for thought to take back to the vet.

The number one cause of vomiting in Yorkies is pancreatitis. They are extremely prone to it and the number one reason they get it is a change in diet.Could be one change,could be three or four.
You have been pulling changes on him left and right. Is he vomiting yellow bile?

Is so, that is a very clear indication of a pancreatic problem. If I were you I would press the vet to do more tests to see if his pancreas is inflamed as it sounds like it is. This is not a small thing, this is deadly serious when it comes to Yorkies and any dog really, as pancreatitis can become fatal quickly.

I hope that I caught you before you head to the vets. I live in California so sometimes it's past the time they are sent out to me.

I can truly say that we see much more of this problem then we have ever seen a blocked Yorkie. Blockages are rare in most dogs, but they do happen. Most of the time they are bigger dogs that chew balls, hoses, socks, etc.

I hope your vet sees the light and treats him for pancreatitis. I do not know what else it could be but that is my suggestion to you.
I will be sending healing thoughts his way. Please let me know how he does.
Jana